While reading an article in a Pillar To Post newsletter this morning about speed-cleaning your house, it brought back a hilarious memory of the time my assistant Chris and I had to do just that for one of our clients homes.
Our seller clients were busy professionals not quite known for their superior housekeeping skills. As a precaution, we'd run over before each showing to make sure things were in relatively good order and usually, they were. One day, we got a call from another agent who wanted to take his clients through for a second time as they were ready to make a buying decision and, our clients home was one of two on their short-list. We had less than an hours notice so we ran over to do our quick check. To our astonishment, the sellers had hosted a dinner party the night before that clearly had some rather "pungent" dishes on the menu and, the party must have run quite late as not a bed had been made or a bathroom tidied. So, we put on our magic suits and set to work. Here's how you really speed-clean a house:
· Stack all the dirty pots and pans up in the oven.
· Throw the dishes into the dishwasher and worry about sorting later
· Lay all the dirty laundry flat as can be on top of the bed and throw the blanket neatly overtop. Pile up some cushions and use the closest pair of socks to dust the bedside table and lamps. Take sock with you.
· Grab all the newspapers, books and loose papers and shove them under the couch cushions. Hair elastics, screwdrivers, dental floss and small photo albums will fit under there as well.
· Take all the food scraps on the counter and toss them into the overflowing garbage can. Run it outside and throw the BBQ cover over it.
· Try to spray the flies with the Febreze can, freshening the air at the same time
· Take your arm and sweep everything off the bathroom counter in one fell swoop into the closest open vessel and put it under the sink. Check that caps are closed first! Close the toilet lid, flush and pray.
· Sweep the floor as fast as possible and hide the crumbs and dust bunnies under the nearest floor mat
· Wipe the kitchen counters with any available tea towel or, the sock
· On your way heading out the door, grab all the shoes, throw them in the front hall closet and toss a coat over top - shove to a corner
• Wipe the sweat from your brow, with the sock, and walk out smiling and looking relaxed as the buyers arrive with their agent. Mention that you'd just popped over to turn the lights on for them.We sold the house that day.
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